TIPS FOR RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS - American...
Transcript of TIPS FOR RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS - American...
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction - 3
Think First - 4
Make the Commitment - 9
Get Ready - 12
Bring Your Dog Home - 15
Keep Your Dog Healthy - 18
Keep Your Dog Safe - 24
Be a Friend - 28
Train Your Dog - 33
Breed Responsibly - 36
Get Involved - 38
Be a Canine Ambassador - 40
Who We Are and What We Do - 44
INTRODUCTION
Among companion animals, dogs are unmatched in their devotion, loyalty and friendship
to humankind. Anyone who has ever loved a dog can attest to its hundred-fold return.
The excitement your dog shows when you come home, the wagging tail at the sound of
the leash being taken from its hook, the delight in the tossing of a tennis ball, and the head
nestled in your lap-those are only some of the rewards of being a dog owner.
Owning a dog is not just a right, it is a responsibility. These animals depend on us for, at
minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. If you are considering taking a dog
into your life, you need to think seriously about the commitment that dog ownership
entails. If you already have a dog, you need to consider if you are fulfilling all your
obligations as its owner.
The AKC is committed to helping dog owners raise happy, healthy dogs. The list below is
certainly not exhaustive, but it contains some of the essential ways you can be the best
dog owner you can be.
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Dog ownership is not something to be entered into lightly. Owning a dog is a long-
ter e otional and financial co it ent. efore deciding that a certain dog is
right for you, you ust a e an honest assess ent as to hether your ho e is
right for any dog.
EVALUATE YOUR LIFESTYLE
If you get a dog, he ill eco e a art of your life. ou need to a e sure that
he s suited for your lifestyle. or e a le, if you are athletic, you ill ro a ly not
e ha y ith a dog that has a lo energy level. If you are e tre ely neat, you
ill ro a ly ant a dog that doesn t shed uch. ll as ects of your fa ily s life
ho ies, activities, ersonalities, and schedules should e evaluated efore you
get a dog.
MAKE A LIST
ased on your evaluation, deter ine hat ualities you ant in a dog. onsider
si e, energy level, groo ing needs, traina ility and te era ent. o you ant a
guard dog or a la dog Is it i ortant that your dog get along ith children If you
rent your ho e, are there restrictions on height, eight or reed ns er these
uestions no once you ring a dog ho e, it can e heart rea ing to reali e that
you ade the rong choice.
THINK FIRST
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THINK FIRST
CHOOSE A BREED
nce you have ade your list of ideal characteristics, do so e research to find hich
reeds fit that rofile. o to your local li rary, attend a dog sho , and visit the
e site. arro your choices to the reed that see s right for you.
1. Get a Referralou have a uch etter chance of eing satisfied if you get your dog fro a
res onsi le, ethical reeder hose ri ary concern is to roduce dogs of high
uality, good health and sta le te era ent. he has a reeder eferral
contact for each recogni ed reed. hese individuals can ut you in contact ith
reeders or rescue organi ations in your area.
2. Make Contactet in touch ith the reed contacts in your area. et the no that you are
interested in their reed. e a le to de onstrate that you have ut thought into your
choice. on t e discouraged if the first reeder you tal to does not have u ies
availa le right a ay. hat erson ay no another reeder in the region.
3. Ask Questionss the reeder any uestions you can thin of a out the reed. hen you find
a reeder you re co forta le ith, as to visit the ennel and vie the dogs on
the reeder s re ises. In uire a out health ro le s of the reed, and hat can
e done to revent or control the . ind out hat inds of activities, including
co etition, the reeder s dogs artici ate in and en oy. he reeder s dogs are a
revie of hat your dog ill e.
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THINK FIRST
CHOOSE A BREED
4. Consider an Older Dogu ies aren t for everyone. If an older dog etter fits your lifestyle, chec the
e site to find a reed arent lu and or reed rescue. hese organi ations rescue
ure red dogs that have een lost, a andoned or surrendered due to the death or illness
of their o ners. ost rescue dogs have een s ayed or neutered and are screened for
health and te era ent ro le s. escue is a not only a great source for ure red dogs,
it s also a ay to save the life of a dog in need.
5. Expect Questions res onsi le reeder or rescue contact ill as you e tensive uestions a out the ty e
of ho e you can offer a dog. hese eo le are as co itted as you are to a ing the
right atch et een you and a dog. ive honest ans ers to their uestions. e e er
that, due to their e erience in the reed, they no hat issues are i ortant in lacing
one of their dogs.
6. Prepare to Waitvaila ility varies. e a are that a u y or dog of the reed you ve decided on ay not
e easy to find. es onsi le reeders do not reed often, and any ti es the u ies
of a lanned reeding are already s o en for. ust re e er that a good dog is orth
aiting for.
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THINK FIRST
CHOOSE A BREED
7. Skip the Holidaysany eo le try to uy u ies as hrist as gifts for children or other fa ily e ers.
ost reeders do not reco end this. ou should e re ared to give a ne u y your
undivided attention, and that is rarely ossi le during the usy holiday season. etter
idea is to give dog related gifts toys, leashes, groo ing tools and then ring your u y
ho e hen all the e cite ent has died do n.
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make a
COMMITMENT
PICK YOUR PET
hen the ti e has co e to select your et, consider your o tions carefully. es ect your
reeder s in ut a out hich u y is right for you. If you are rescuing an older dog, as
your contact erson for infor ation on its health, te era ent, ehavior and history.
GET IT IN WRITING
Infor ation a out the sale or ado tion should e in riting. he contract should include,
for e a le, details regarding any fees, s ay neuter agree ents, health guarantees,
ter s of co o nershi , restrictions on reeding, and living arrange ents. It should also
include instructions on hat to do if the dog, des ite your est efforts, si ly doesn t
or out for you or your fa ily. ost res onsi le reeders ill insist that the dog e
returned to the .
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GET YOUR PAPERS
et your registration a lication fro the reeder hen you urchase the u y.
a e sure the reeder co letes the a ro riate sections of the for and signs it. he
reeder can also hel you fill out your section correctly.
REGISTER YOUR DOG
end the co leted, signed registration a lication to the . our dog ill then
eco e art of the nation s largest registry of ure red dogs and as ell as eing eligi le
for a variety of co etitive events and can also activate the o li entary ay rial
of et Insurance . If you rescue a dog, consider a lying for a ure red lternative
isting Indefinite isting rivilege I nu er. his nu er ill allo your dog to
artici ate in so e co anion events.
make a
COMMITMENT
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GET READY
PREPARE YOURSELF
et ready for your ne friend efore you ring hi ho e, to a e sure the transition
ill e as s ooth as ossi le. uy food, treats, a collar and leash, toys, groo ing tools and
other necessities in advance so your dog or u y ill have everything he needs.
MAKE A SCHEDULE
ou and your fa ily e ers should decide ho ill e res onsi le for food, ater,
al ing, e ercise, clean u and groo ing. ost a schedule of tas s in a visi le area of the
house to re ind everyone of their res onsi ilities.
DOG-PROOF YOUR HOME
re are your ho e efore your ne dog arrives. ove rea a les or che a les to
higher ground. a e electrical cords inaccessi le to curious a s and noses. loc off
any area of the house that you ant off li its to the dog. ut the lid do n on your toilet
and your shoes u in your closet. loc access to any house or garden lants that ay e
to ic to dogs.
SET A CONTAINMENT POLICY
It is essential that you have a secure ethod of ee ing your dog on your ro erty. hec
your fence for s ots vulnera le to che ing or digging. If your yard is not fenced, consider
a large dog run or invisi le fencing. If your ro erty is not fenced in so e ay, e hasi e
to fa ily e ers that the dog ust e leashed at all ti es hen ta en outdoors.
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GET READY
GET A COLLAR
our dog should ear a at leather or nylon collar ith a uc le at all ti es, e ce t hen
in a crate. he uc le can catch on the crate and cause in ury. he collar should e tight
enough that it ill not slide over the dog s ears, ut loose enough that you can fit t o
fingers et een the collar and the dog s nec . hec the fit of the collar often, es ecially
if you have a fast gro ing u y.
MAKE A BED
very dog needs a uiet lace to call his o n. reate a co forta le area, hether a crate,
a at or a ile of lan ets, for your dog to go to hen he needs rest or rivacy.
BUY SOME TOYS
rovide your dog ith a variety of toys to revent hi fro laying ith your soc s and
shoes, your orning a er, or your child s favorite doll. et so e toys that you and your
dog can lay ith together, such as alls and lush toys, and so e things to ee hi usy
hen he s alone, such as che ies or ro e ones. ever leave your dog unattended ith
any toy that has s all, detacha le arts.
FIND A VETERINARIAN
ou should choose a veterinarian for your dog as soon as ossi le. ave your dog
e a ined y the vet ithin a fe days of his arrival. ive your vet co ies of the dog s
health records, and set u a vaccination and chec u schedule.
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bring your dog
HOME
t last ou ve ade all the re arations, and it s finally ti e to ring your ne friend
ho e. ive hi the est elco e ossi le. ith love, atience and utual res ect, he
ill feel li e art of the fa ily in no ti e.
LET YOUR DOG ADJUST
ive the dog ti e to ad ust to his ne ho e. he dog is ound to feel insecure and
frightened y a change in environ ent, and a u ay e ho esic for his other or
litter ates. ho hi to his crate or ed, and here to find food and ater. hen leave
hi alone to e lore the ne surroundings.
NAME YOUR DOG
our dog ill need a good na e. our reeder ay have suggestions or even
re uire ents for his registered na e, ut his call or infor al na e is u to you.
lder ado ted dogs can ad ust uic ly to a ne na e.
MAKE INTRODUCTIONS
Introduce your dog to your household slo ly. any airs of hands etting hi at once
ay over hel hi . ater, introduce hi to neigh ors, regular visitors and other fa ily
e ers. ive your dog a sense of ho your and your dog s friends are.
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bring your dog
HOME
INTRODUCE OTHER PETS
ther co anion ani als in your ho e should also e ro erly introduced to your ne
dog or u y. on t e ect the to get along right a ay, and don t try to force the to
lay together. ive the ti e to ad ust to one another.
HOUSETRAIN
hichever ethod of housetraining you have chosen crate training, a er training or
litter o a e sure that all e ers of the fa ily enforce it consistently. ccidents
ha en, so have a rocedure for clean u .
SET HOUSE RULES
each your dog fro the eginning hat is and is not a ro riate ehavior. If so ething
is today, your u y ill
thin it s forever. a e
sure that every e er of
the fa ily enforces the house
rules. onsistency is the ey
to having a well-behaved pet.
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keep your dog
HEALTHY
GO TO THE VETERINARIAN
et u a schedule for regular chec u s ith your veterinarian. s the vet uestions
a out your dog s diet, ehavior, activity level or other concerns. ontact the veterinarian
at once if your dog see s ill or in ain. s a s ecial registration enefit, the has
arranged a o li entary ay rial of et Insurance for ne ly registered
u ies. etails a out this s ecial co li entary enefit ill e sent to you shortly after
registration.
FEED A GOOD DIET
or ith your veterinarian or reeder to find the food that is est for your dog s age,
si e and activity level. ee the diet consistent. l ays rovide lenty of fresh, clean
water.
EXERCISE
ogs need regular e ercise to ensure continuing good health. a e your dog for al s,
run around in the yard, thro a all around anything to get hi u and oving. his ill
enefit his health and could revent ehavior ro le s.
VACCINATE
ogs should follo a strict schedule of vaccinations to revent diseases. ee your dog
current on his vaccinations, follo ing the schedule reco ended y your veterinarian.
ee a co y of your dog s vaccination records handy.
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keep your dog
HEALTHY
PREVENT DISEASE
ou can ta e ste s to revent other diseases not covered y the regular series of
vaccinations. e ending on the area of the country you live in, your dog could e at ris
for diseases such as heart or and y e disease. s your veterinarian for advice on
prevention.
REPEL FLEAS AND TICKS
side fro disco fort, arasites such as eas and tic s can cause serious diseases.
ee your dog, his edding, and your ho e free fro arasites y using the ethod
reco ended y your veterinarian.
KNOW YOUR DOG’S PATTERNS
ou should eco e fa iliar ith your dog s atterns in ter s of eating, drin ing, slee ing
and relieving hi self. ny a or variations in these atterns could indicate illness and
should e re orted to your veterinarian.
PROVIDE CHEW TOYS
ogs never outgro the need to che . rotect your ossessions y roviding a variety of
che toys to satisfy your dog s urges.
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keep your dog
HEALTHY
BATHE YOUR DOG
clean dog is a healthy dog. athe your dog on a regular asis a ro riate to his reed
and environ ent. ver athing can e har ful to a dog s s in. se a good sha oo
and e sure to rinse ell. If athing your dog is ore than you can handle, ta e hi to a
groo er or veterinarian for hel .
GROOM YOUR DOG
ll dogs should e groo ed regularly for health and est a earance. o e short coated
reeds need ust a uic rushing every ee , hile so e longer coated reeds need
daily rushing to revent atting and to reduce shedding. If your dog re uires cli ing or
scul ting, you ay ant to consult a rofessional groo er.
CLIP THOSE NAILS
ee ing your dog s nails short ill ee hi co forta le, revent in ury to his feet,
and ay save the surface of your oors. If you can hear your dog s nails clic on a hard
surface, they need to e tri ed. s your veterinarian for advice on cli ing your dog s
nails yourself.
CLEAN THOSE TEETH
o revent tooth decay and gu disease, clean your dog s teeth regularly. ost dogs ill
acce t a tooth rush if introduced to it slo ly and gently. ou can also give your dog
roducts such as hard iscuits, ro e ones and nylon che s to ee his teeth clean.
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keep your dog
HEALTHY
PREVENT OBESITY
ee your dog healthy y aintaining hi at an a ro riate eight. eed hi a ell
alanced diet and give hi lenty of e ercise. on t give in to egging eo le food is
generally ad for dogs.
KNOW YOUR BREED’S HEALTH RISKS
ou should e a are of co on health ro le s in your reed, ho to revent the ,
and ho to recogni e their onset. or e a le, so e giant reeds are rone to loat,
hile so e short faced reeds are rone to res iratory ro le s. s your reeder or
veterinarian for infor ation a out any signs or sy to s you should atch for in your
pet.
PROTECT FROM POISONS
a e sure that your ho e and yard are free fro oisonous su stances, such as
antifree e, hich tastes good ut can cause serious illness or even death. ee your
veterinarian s nu er handy in case of accidental ingestion.
BE ALERT TO CHANGING NEEDS
s your dog ages, his needs ill change. e ay re uire a different diet, need ore
slee , and e less active. o hat you can to ee hi co forta le. our dog ay not
e as fun as he once as, ut he is the sa e dog you loved as a u y. ou should do
everything you can to a er hi in his final years.
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keep your dog
HEALTHY
PROTECT FROM POISONS
a e sure that your ho e and yard are free fro oisonous su stances, such as
antifree e, hich tastes good ut can cause serious illness or even death. ee your
veterinarian s nu er handy in case of accidental ingestion.
BE ALERT TO CHANGING NEEDS
s your dog ages, his needs ill change. e ay re uire a different diet, need ore
slee , and e less active. o hat you can to ee hi co forta le. our dog ay not
e as fun as he once as, ut he is the sa e dog you loved as a u y. ou should do
everything you can to a er hi in his final years.
END SUFFERING
If, due to illness or old age, your dog reaches a oint here his uality of life is severely
co ro ised, arrange to end his life hu anely. etting go is so eti es the indest thing
you can do. on t rolong the suffering ecause you fear the ain of losing your dog.
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I.D. YOUR DOG
our dog should ear an
identification tag ith your
na e, address and hone
nu er at all ti es. his ill
increase the chances of your dog
eing returned to you if he is lost
or runs a ay.
CONSIDER MICROCHIPS OR TATTOOS
icrochi s and tattoos are
ethods of er anently
identifying your dog, and can e invalua le in recovering your dog should he eco e
lost. ou ay ish to enroll your dog in s affiliate, the eunite service, hich
is the nation s largest data ase of icrochi ed ets.
WATCH THE HEAT
ogs can succu to heat stress in a atter of inutes. o not leave your dog in
an unventilated vehicle hen the te erature is high. hen your dog is outside, he
should have a shady lace to lay do n and lenty of fresh, cool ater.
keep your dog
SAFE
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keep your dog
SAFE
PROVIDE SHELTER
our dog needs a sheltered area for the ti e he s ends outside. he shelter should
rovide shade in su er and ar th in inter.
TRAVEL SAFELY
ee your dog safe in the car y using a crate, or y attaching the dog to a seat elt
ith a harness. ever let your dog ride free in the ac of a ic u truc , or allo hi
to hang his head out of the car indo .
FIND A PET-SITTER OR BOARDING KENNEL
a e arrange ents for your dog s care hen you go a ay. ave a friend or relia le
et sitter co e over to tend to the dog, or find a good ennel for oarding. If you o t
for oarding, try to ins ect the facilities efore you dro your dog off.
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keep your dog
SAFE
PREPARE FOR DISASTER
e re ared to care for your dog in the event of a disaster such as fire, ood,
hurricane or earth ua e. a e an e ergency it ith clean ater, food, and first aid
e ui ent. ind out in advance if the evacuation shelters in your area allo ani als. If
not, develo alternatives.
ESTABLISH AN EMERGENCY CONTACT
nlist a fa ily e er or friend to ta e care of your dog in the event of a sudden
illness, hos itali ation or other e ergency. his erson should ideally e so eone
your dog has s ent so e ti e ith and is co forta le ith. eave a list of general
care instructions in a safe lace.
MAKE A WILL
ou should a e arrange ents for the safety and care of your et in the event of your
death. on t assu e that a fa ily e er ill ste in to ta e care of the dog.
TAKE PICTURES
f course, you ill ant a icture of your dog to grace your des or to send as a
hrist as card. ore i ortantly, a current hoto ill e invalua le in the event that
your dog is lost.
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be a
FRIEND
PLAY!
ogs, of course, love to lay. et aside ti e each day for lay sessions. art fro
the o vious enefit of having fun together, lay also rovides an outlet for your dog s
energy.
GO ON WALKS
a e your dog on fre uent al s. e ill en oy e loring the neigh orhood and ill
enefit fro the e ercise. a e sure that you have a good strong leash and that you
aintain control of the dog at all ti es.
TALK TO YOUR DOG
our dog on t understand your ords, ut he ill en oy the sound of your voice.
al ing to your dog ill a e hi feel involved. ou can also use different voice levels to
raise or correct your dog s ehavior.
GIVE TREATS
our dog ill al ays a reciate a treat, and treats can e used as a su le ent to his
regular diet, as ell as an e cellent training aid.
SWITCH OUT TOYS
ee your dog entertained y rotating his toys. ut old toys out of sight for a onth
or t o and then ring the out again your dog ill en oy the ust as uch as hen
they were new.
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be a
FRIEND
GIVE YOUR TIME
ou are the center of your dog s orld. ou ay e tired after a long day at or , ut
your dog has s ent the day an iously a aiting your return. e ard that loyalty ith
your ti e. et hi , tal to hi , lay ith hi , laugh ith hi . et your dog no you
value his co any.
FIND THE “SPOT”
cratch your dog s elly often. If you find the s ot, so uch the etter.
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be a
FRIEND
LEAVE THE RADIO ON
ry leaving the radio or television on hen you leave your dog alone. he noise ill
ee hi co any.
PLAN ACTIVITIES WITH YOUR DOG
Include your dog in fa ily activities. a e hi to the ar or on outings to the each, or
to s ecial activities such as the og ly ics or dog arades. our dog ill love eing
out and a out ith you.
GIVE A MASSAGE
ogs love to e etted, and recent studies have sho n that structured assages ay
e eneficial to your dog s health and ehavior. hey ay also e very rela ing for you
MAKE THAT TAIL WAG
our dog s tail is a aro eter of his e otions. o hat you can to ee it ha ily
wagging.
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be a
FRIEND
GO ON TRIPS
ogs can add another ele ent of fun to a fa ily vacation. hec ahead for lodging that
acce ts dogs. If ying, as a out travel acco odations for your dog hen you a e
your reservations.
EASE SEPARATION ANXIETY
our dog ill ant to e ith you at all ti es, ut for ost eo le that si ly isn t
ossi le. el your dog get used to eing alone. eave hi each day ith a ini u of
fuss. hen you co e ho e, greet hi cal ly. his ill teach hi that your leaving is not
so ething to e concerned a out.
GET ANOTHER ONE!
ogs are ac ani als y nature and generally en oy the co any of other dogs. our
dog ay enefit greatly fro having a co anion to lay ith. e as conscientious
a out getting a second dog as you ere a out getting the first ulti le dog o nershi
isn t for everyone, and so e dogs do etter as an only.
DON’T LET YOUR DOG DOWN
ou aren t a dog o ner ust at hrist as, or on the ee ends, or in the afternoon, or
hen you have s are ti e. ou aren t a dog o ner ust hen the dog is ehaving, or
hen he s a cute fu y u y, or hen he s inning a ards. hen you ring a dog into
your fa ily, that dog is yours for life. If you can t ee that co it ent, don t a e it.
nd once you ve ade it, don t rea it. our dog s life de ends on you.
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TRAIN YOUR DOG
TEACH BASIC COMMANDS
each your dog asic co ands such as sit, stay, co e and do n. raining your dog ill
not only a e your life easier, ut ill also fulfill your dog s desire to learn and lease
you.
SOCIALIZE YOUR DOG
ose your dog to different eo le and settings regularly. a e hi to the ar , to
the et store, on a al through to n. raise hi for acce ting etting fro friendly
strangers, and for ehaving cal ly around other dogs. he ore your dog learns of the
orld, the ore co forta le he ill e in it.
GO TO CLASS
edience classes can e a great e erience for you and your dog. ou ay even
discover that your dog has a great talent for learning, and e a le to co ete in
o edience, agility or trac ing events.
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TRAIN YOUR DOG
PREVENT NUISANCE BARKING
on t let your dog s incessant ar ing annoy your neigh ors. each your dog not to
ar ithout real rovocation. If your dog s ar ing is causing a ro le s hile you re
a ay fro ho e, there are several training o tions availa le, consult your veterinarian.
PRAISE YOUR DOG
ecause your dog loves you, he ants to lease you. raise hi lavishly for o eying
co ands and ehaving ell. sing ositive, rather than negative, reinforce ent ill
hel your dog en oy learning.
SUPERVISE PLAY WITH CHILDREN
hildren and dogs can e great co anions, ut they also re uire su ervision hen
laying together. our dog ay e good ith ids, ut hat if he encounters a id that
is not good ith dogs ery s all children should never e left alone ith a dog, no
matter how stable his temperament.
GIVE YOUR DOG A JOB
ee your dog active and alert y giving hi tas s to do. each hi to fetch the a er,
carry groceries in a ac or e ty the dryer. a e hi sit efore getting a treat or lay
do n efore going outside. iving your dog a sense of ur ose and acco lish ent
ill increase his sense of ell eing.
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BREED TO IMPROVE
reeding should ri arily e done for the advance ent of the reed. If you are thin ing a out
reeding your dog, consult your reeder for advice. onsider all the conse uences and e enses
of reeding a litter efore you do so. onsult u lications for ore infor ation as ell.
FIND A MENTOR
If you lan to reed or sho your dog, you ill ant to find a no ledgea le erson in
the reed to sho you the ro es. entor can e an invalua le source of e erience and
infor ation, and can hel a e your novice days uch easier.
SPAY OR NEUTER
aying eutering are a or surgeries and the decision to s ay or neuter a dog should e ade
y the dogs o ner in con unction ith their veterinarian. ecent scientific studies de onstrate
that s aying neutering, articularly efore a dog is fully ature, ay result in detri ental longter
health i acts. In light of this infor ation, encourages reeders, o ners and veterinarians to
consult on the a ro riateness and ti ing of s aying or neutering an individual dog.
CONTAIN FEMALES IN HEAT
If your fe ale dog goes into heat, or season, a e sure to ee her ro erly secured.
ales can sense a fe ale in heat u to five iles a ay.
PERFORM GENETIC SCREENING
If you lan to reed your dog, it is very i ortant to test for genetic disorders. hile it is
i ossi le to eli inate all genetic disorders, erfor all availa le tests reco ended y
the arent lu .
breed
RESPONSIBLY
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GET INVOLVED
JOIN AN AKC CLUB
our local dog clu is a great resource. any clu s offer educational se inars
and health clinics. It s also a good lace to start if you lan to co ete in co etitive
events ith your dog.
EARN AN AKC TITLE
lore the s ort of dogs y artici ating in events. he offers titles for
acco lish ent in a ide variety of co etition ty es and levels. ind an event that s
right for your dog, and have fun.
ENCOURAGE BREED BEHAVIOR
ll ure red dogs ere develo ed ith a ur ose in ind. ind activities that ill
encourage your dog to fulfill her reed s ur ose. he offers any erfor ance
events geared to ard s ecific reeds.
INVOLVE THE KIDS
our children can have fun and learn ore a out dogs and dog care y artici ating
in unior ho anshi events. hrough the ational unior rgani ation, your
child can co ete in confor ation and erfor ance events, attend se inars, and
earn scholarshi s.
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SET A GOOD EXAMPLE
s a dog o ner, you are res onsi le not only for your o n dog s ell eing, ut for
the status of dogs every here. ne irres onsi le dog o ner in to n can a e life
difficult for dog o ners all over. ning a friendly, clean, ell annered dog re ects
ositively on the s ecies and ay hel rotect our rights to o n co anion ani als.
RESPECT YOUR NEIGHBORS
ot everyone ill love your dog as uch as you do. ee your dog on your ro erty.
on t force your dog s co any on a neigh or ho isn t co forta le ith dogs.
DON’T LEAVE LEAVINGS
l ays carry a lastic aggie or t o ith you hen you al your dog to ic u any
aste it leaves ehind, then dis ose of the aste ro erly. ailure to clean u after
your dog is disres ectful to your neigh ors.
RESPECT LOCAL LAWS
eed the la s regarding dog o nershi in your city or county. hese ay include
registration, leash la s and nuisance ar ing la s. ailure to o ey the la s in your
area ay not only result in the loss of your dogs, ut ay also infringe u on the rights
of others in your area.
be a
CANINE AMBASSADOR
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FIGHT ANTI-DOG LEGISLATION
e a are of any legislation develo ing in your city or state that ay co ro ise the
rights of res onsi le dog o ners. eco e an active voice against legislation directed
against s ecific reeds. or ore infor ation, contact the overn ent elations and
u lic ducation de art ents at the .
LET YOUR DOG HELP OTHERS
ogs are invalua le in roviding service to hu ans visiting the sic , hel ing the
disa led, locating issing ersons, and uch ore. If your dog is of the correct
te era ent, you and he can rea the re ards of hel ing others.
GET A CANINE GOOD CITIZEN® CERTIFICATE
our dog can eco e an erican ennel lu anine ood iti en y assing a
test designed to de onstrate good anners and acce ta le ehavior in everyday
situations. he rogra has eco e a standard for recogni ing o edient dogs
and res onsi le dog o ners throughout the country.
MOST OF ALL …
ive your dog lots of love, ti e, and affection and you ll e richly re arded he ll e
ha y to return the favor
be a
CANINE AMBASSADOR
CONTACT THE AKCFor more information on how to be a
responsible dog owner,
contact the American Kennel Club.
THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB
E-Book - 44American Kennel Club
The AKC is a not-for-profit organization and the largest purebred dog registry in the world.
We are the sports-governing body for over 22,000 dog events a year, including conformation
(dog shows) and exciting sports like agility, obedience, rally, tracking, lure coursing,
earthdog, herding trials, among others.
But the AKC is so much more. Here are just some of the ways we support and enrich the lives
of dogs—purebreds and mixed-breeds alike—and their families.
AKC Humane Fund, su orts reed rescue activities, assists shelters that er it do estic
a use victi s to ring their ets, and educates dog lovers a out res onsi le dog o nershi .
Canine Good Citizen® rogra ste test that certifies dogs ho have good anners at
ho e and in their co unity. ver , dogs across the nited tates have eco e anine
ood iti ens , and states have assed resolutions recogni ing the rogra s erit and
i ortance.
AKC Reunite has rought ore than , lost ets ac together ith their o ners.
he AKC Canine Health Foundation, funds research ro ects and clinical studies. ince the
has donated over illion to the . he is the only registry that incor orates
health screening results into its er anent dog records.
AKC conducts thousands of ennel ins ections annually to onitor care and conditions at
ennels across the country and ensure the integrity of the registry.
e offer the largest, ost co rehensive set of rogra s for arentage verification and
genetic identity to ensure relia le registration records.
su orts one of the orld s largest collections of dog related fine art and artifacts at the
AKC Museum of the Dog,
e have the orld s largest dog library at head uarters in e or , oth of hich are
o en to the u lic.